Improvement in saddle-hooks



D. L. MILLER.

Saddle-Hook.

No. 212,035. Patented Feb. 4,1879.

NPETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHEE WASHINGTON D. O.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFF DAVID L. MILLER, OF MADISON, NEW JERSEY,'ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H.

ELY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SADDLE-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 212,035, dated February 4, 1879; application filed December 2, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID L. MILLER, of Madison, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddle Hooks, of which the following is a Specification:

The object of my invention is to provide an improved check-rein hook for harness-saddles which will prevent the accidental detachment of the rein, and at the same time admit of its ready attachment or removal; and it relates to that class of hooks which are formed with a pivoted spring-jaw at the entrance of the loop to retain the rein in position when inserted.

, The novelty of my invention consists in the arrangement and contour of the spring-jaw with relation to the upper fixed jaw and the lower half of the loop, by which the advantages of simplicity, ease of action, and neatness are secured, as hereinafter set forth.

The figure in' the annexed drawing presents a side elevation of my improved saddle-hookremoved from the saddle.

The base (I of the hook is formed with a projecting screw stem or stud, a, fitted with a nut, b, by which it is secured to the saddletree, as usual. The hook c is of about the usual curved or scroll shape, as shown, the forward portion being swelled into a loop or eye to receive the rein, while the back part takes a downward curve approaching the base (I, so as to form a narrow throat or passage, through which the rein enters the loop, while the extremity of the loop terminates in an upward curve in about the usual manner, as shown.

A is the movable self-closing jaw, arranged at the entrance to the loop of the hook,l.as usual and as shown. A spring, B, fixed at one end to the base, and hearing at the other end against the jaw A, serves to keep it pressed into contact with the fixed jaw, and thus guard and close the passage to and from the loop of the hook, preventing effectually the disengagement of the rein when slipped into the loop. This movablejaw A is curved, as shown, symmetrical with the upper fixed jaw, and it makes contact therewith at the approaching point of the curves. Furthermore, the movable jaw is pivoted to the base a distance in front of the point of contact of the jaws, and its contour is uniform and continuous with the contour of the lower half of the loop and symmetrical with the upper half, as shown, so that smooth inclined approaches are thus formed to and from the loop, which permit the ready insertion or removal of the rein by forcing it with a wedging action between the diverging jaws.

This symmetrical formation and disposition of the jaws form the main feature of my invention, and it has the advantages not only of neatness but also of compactness and simplicity, and of smoothness and ease of action, which are qualities of prime importance in harnessfittings.

What I claim as my invention is- A saddle-hook formed with a movable sprin gjaw, A, pivoted to the base of the hook in front of its .point of contact with the fixed jaw, and having a curved contour uniform and continuous with the lower half of the loop, and symmetrical with the upper half or fixed jaw, substantially as shown and described.

DAVID L. MILLER. 

